Joshua; Chapter 2
As we enter into the next stage of our bible study and into the storytelling of the history of the Israelite people, we begin with a curious, yet, close encounter with a prostitute by the name of Rahab. I know the title of this post is going to get me into trouble, but hey, what else is new? I don't know how I, Rev. Dorinda "Make it plain" Henry, could tell this story any other way. Do you? I didn't think so. So let's begin...
When we get into the book of Joshua, we like to run on to the fall of Jericho. Preachers, teachers, and lay leaders like to run on past this cute and yet, arguably, unnecessary narrative of the "prostitute," Rahab. I find it interesting that this narrative was even included - until I realized Rahab is the second woman named in the genealogy of Jesus. She is also the second woman in this small group of women, who found herself in the royal ancestral line through particularly particular circumstances. Like her predecessor, Tamar, (Whom we'll get to in just a moment), she is identified as being a prostitute, or harlot if you're reading the King James Version. Rahab lived in a house on the "wall" of Jericho. The scripture tells us after getting instruction from Joshua to go and spy out the land, "especially Jericho," the first order of business for the spies must have been for them to get a piece of @$$, so they went, "and entered the house of a prostitute whose name was Rahab." After spending the night with Rahab and after she risks her life to hide the men from the King of Jericho, and helped them escape, they make an oath to her that they will spare her life and the lives of her "father, mother, brothers, sisters and all who belong to them" if she ties a crimson cord in the same window they escaped from (Joshua 2:1-21). I know when you read these blogs you struggle to believe that I am a real card carrying, bonafide Preacher, but I assure you that I am. I write these blogs this way, because I need the masses, regular ole folk, to stop being intimidated by the bible and bible thumpers. For it is a moral imperative to know for certainty, that without prostitutes, misfits and miscreants, the world would have never heard of the most famous Mediterranean Jewish peasant man named Jesus.
Now where was I? Oh yeah, this "whore," is not the first in the royal lineage of Jesus. There was another woman said to have "played the whore." Enter stage left - Tamar. If you remember, Tamar, was the Canaanite woman Judah gave to his firstborn son, Er. The scripture tells us that Er "was wicked in the sight of the Lord and the Lord put him to death" (Genesis 38: 1-8). According to the Levirate Law (Deuteronomy 25:5-10), Judah commanded his second son, Onan, "Go in to your brother's wife and perform the duty of a brother-in-law to her; raise up offspring for your brother." Now, if you have been following this blog and reading along with us, then you know Onan, knowing that the offspring from these encounters with Tamar would not be his, he spilled his seed upon the ground. Consequently, for his disobedience, he too, was put to death by the Lord (Genesis38:8-10). Although Judah had a third son, Shelah, he was not of age and therefore, Judah instructed Tamar to return to her father's house until the young boy grew up.
Well, in due course, Judah's unnamed wife dies and after a period of morning, he and a friend goes to Timnah. When Tamar hears of it, she takes off her "widow's garments, put on a veil, wrapped herself up, and sat down at the entrance of Enaim, which is on the road to Timnah (vv. 12-14c). To make a long story short, Tamar sees that Shelah, Judah's youngest son has grown up and yet, she has not been given to him for marriage. Can you hear the Black Woman's Cotton Patch Version's commentary? It sounds a little sumptn like this; "Ah, okay, okay, are you for real? Huh? Are you for real? Watch this... Ima take off these mourning rags, put my freak 'em dress on, and meet ya @$$ right where you are!" And it works. Judah sees her, mistakes her for a prostitute and negotiates with her a payment to "go in to her." He offers a kid (a baby goat), but knowing her own worth - she countered; "Your signet, and your cord and the staff that is in your hand." Whaaaat? All of the identifying accoutrements of a man with significant authority! And he gave the items up to her! Ummm umph! I won't say it, but you know what I'm thinking... That's alright, take ya time... ;) Oh and did I mention she became pregnant, and for his failure to restore her (his daughter-in-law's) honor, she, like Rahab, is saved from being burned alive (vv. 15-26).
Both of these women, Tamar and Rahab are but two of the women mentioned by name in the genealogy of Jesus. They are women, of questionable reputation. Women who have been painted with a broad brush of insignificance, labeled as being among the underbelly of society, and yet, had it not been for their actions, their sense of self-worth, their act of holding men accountable to the law, or for their example of faith, where would our Jesus be without them? For me, however, they are tenacious women, women with moxy, women who dared to challenge the Patriarchal constructs of conventional wisdom and mores of the day to secure their own safety and the safety of others. They are women who should be lifted up and revered alongside the men of the bible. Their courage and acts of faith are no less than that of the men. We are simply more likely to forgive and overlook what the men do and applaud them when they finally do what is expected of them. On the contrary, we make examples of the women in an effort to exert power and control of women in present day. To that I say, ladies, take a lesson from these women - know the power of the ..... Did I say that? Noooo... I did not. ;)
© Dorinda G. Henry, 2011
THEOLOGIA HABITUS EST!
